Best Gateways for the GPT-Image-2 API

Quick answer: Access GPT-Image-2 via the OpenAI images endpoint (platform.openai.com) or an OpenAI-compatible gateway. The top gateways for GPT-Image-2 in 2026 are Novarelay, CometAPI, AiHubMix and OpenRouter. Updated July 2026.

What is the GPT-Image-2 API?

GPT-Image-2 is OpenAI’s image-generation model, called through the OpenAI images endpoint and billed per image. You can use it directly with an OpenAI API key (platform.openai.com → API keys), or through an OpenAI-compatible gateway so images and text share one key and one balance.

Generate images through one gateway key

An AI API gateway lets you call the GPT-Image-2 API with the same key you use for GPT and Claude text models — useful when an app needs both. Novarelay, our top pick, exposes GPT-Image-2 on an OpenAI-compatible image endpoint at up to 20% below direct pricing, with pay-as-you-go credits from $1 and unified usage logs. CometAPI and AiHubMix also support GPT-Image-2.

How is the GPT-Image-2 API priced?

GPT-Image-2 is billed per generated image rather than per token, with the price depending on resolution and quality. A discount gateway can lower the effective cost on the same model.

Can I call GPT-Image-2 with the OpenAI SDK?

Yes. GPT-Image-2 uses the OpenAI images endpoint, so the OpenAI SDK works directly — or point it at an OpenAI-compatible gateway base URL and use the gateway key.

Which gateways support GPT-Image-2?

Novarelay, CometAPI and AiHubMix all expose GPT-Image-2 through an OpenAI-compatible API.

Is it safe to use an AI API gateway?

A gateway is a paid reseller that routes your request to the official model and bills you per token. The things worth checking are reliability, data handling and billing — here is how we think about each, and what our ranking weighs most.

Will my key suddenly stop working?

The real risk with any reseller is downtime or a service disappearing, so reliability and uptime carry heavy weight in our ranking. We favour gateways with a public status page and pay-as-you-go credits (no lock-in). For production, pin exact model slugs and keep a fallback key with a second provider or the official API.

Do gateways log or train on my prompts?

Data handling is set by each provider’s own privacy policy, not by us — always read it before sending sensitive data. The better gateways pass requests straight through to the model provider and do not retain prompt content; we treat clear, privacy-respecting terms as a plus and vague ones as a minus.

Why is it cheaper than going direct — is the discount real?

Gateways buy at volume and route efficiently, then pass part of the saving on; the discount is a real per-token rate, not a coupon. Always confirm the live price in the provider’s dashboard before you build — pricing is set by each provider and can change, and we show figures for comparison only.

Do I need a credit card to start?

Most gateways are pay-as-you-go: top up a small amount, spend it across models, no subscription. Some include a little trial credit so you can test before you commit. Start small, verify quality and latency on your own workload, then scale.

Last updated: July 2026 · Independent ranking; we may be rewarded for recommending the service we rate best (never for placement). Model names and trademarks (OpenAI, ChatGPT, GPT, Anthropic, Claude, Google, Gemini) belong to their respective owners and are used for identification only. Pricing is set by each provider and can change — always verify before you build.